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Outgoing UK PM Boris Johnson British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will step down.
- The embattled leader had faced a growing rebellion within his party over a series of scandals.
- Johnson said the timetable for his departure will be announced next week, saying he has appointed new Cabinet while he remains as UK prime minister until a successor is chosen
- The prime minister said he regrets not being able to convince party to support him, said “herd instinct” powerful.
- He defiantly told legislators he had a “colossal mandate” from voters and intended to get on with the business of government.
Zelenskyy expresses ‘sadness’ at UK PM’s departure
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called Boris Johnson by telephone to express his “sadness” over the British leader’s resignation as Conservative leader and impending departure as prime minister, according to Kyiv.
“We all welcome this news with sadness. Not only me, but also all of Ukrainian society which sympathises with you a lot,” the presidency quoted Zelenskyy as saying, reiterating how grateful Ukrainians were for the British prime minister’s support since the Russian invasion.
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EU: Johnson exit won’t change stance on Northern Ireland impasse
The European Commission has declined to comment on Johnson’s resignation as prime minister, but said its stand in a post-Brexit impasse over Northern Ireland would not be affected by political developments in London.
“On the events in the UK … we have no comment on democratic processes in third countries,” a spokesperson for the European Union’s executive told a news briefing.
A second spokesperson said there would be no shift in the EU’s approach to the Northern Ireland protocol that was part of the UK’s divorce agreement with the EU.
“From our point of view, the political developments do not change our position on the protocol or the way in which we work with our British counterparts on Northern Ireland,” he said. “Our position is that we should endeavour to seek solutions as regards to the implementation of the protocol.”
Johnson’s government has proposed legislation allowing the UK to scrap some of the rules on post-Brexit trade with Northern Ireland, which last week cleared a first parliamentary hurdle.
The EU says the bill is a violation of international law.
A view of 10 Downing Street, where Johnson is expected to make a statement, in London [Henry Nicholls/Reuters] Ex-PM Major: Johnson should not remain as caretaker
Former British Prime Minister John Major says outgoing leader Boris Johnson should not remain in Downing Street until a successor is found “for the overall wellbeing of the country”.
Major, prime minister from 1990 to 1997 and from Johnson’s Conservative Party, said deputy PM Dominic Raab could take over until a new leader is found, or the party could change the selection rules to speed up the process.
“The proposal for the prime minister to remain in office – for up to three months – having lost the support of his cabinet, his government and his parliamentary party is unwise, and may be unsustainable,” he said in a public letter.
Irish PM sees opportunity to reset partnership with UK
Ireland and the UK now have an opportunity to repair relations that have been strained in recent times by Brexit, Prime Minister Micheal Martin said after Johnson’s resignation.
“While Prime Minister Johnson and I engaged actively together, we didn’t always agree, and the relationship between our governments has been strained and challenged in recent times,” Martin said in a statement.
“We now have an opportunity to return to the true spirit of partnership and mutual respect that is needed to underpin the gains of the Good Friday Agreement,” he added, referring to a 1998 Northern Ireland peace deal.
Johnson’s rise and fall
Johnson has spent months battling to maintain his grip on power amid a series of controversies.
The Eton and Oxford-educated former mayor of London who also served as foreign secretary has proven a divisive figure during his time in office, which began with overseeing the UK’s controversial departure from the EU, for which Johnson had been a vocal proponent.
Some will remember him as an outspoken and controversial leader, while others view him as a jolly and affable prime minister with a can-do attitude.
Read more about Johnson’s rise and fall here.
(Al Jazeera) Ukrainian official thanks Johnson for support
Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has thanked Johnson for his support of Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion.
“To be a leader – to call Russia evil a evil and to take responsibility in the hardest times. To be a leader – to be the first to arrive in Kyiv, despite missile attacks. Thanks Boris Johnson for realizing the threat of RF [Russia federation] monster and always being at the forefront of supporting Ukraine,” Podolyak tweeted.
Johnson set to face backlash
Johnson is set to face backlash from his party if he attempts to stay on until autumn, Al Jazeera’s Paul Brennan reports from London.
Johnson said a timetable for his departure would be announced next week, and he has appointed a cabinet to serve “until a new leader is in place”.
“We know from this morning that Boris Johnson is rather keen to stay on in place until the autumn, that a new leader for the Conservative Party should be in place in time for the annual Conservative Party conference in October,” Brennan said.
“There are lots of people who believe that it’s frankly not a tenable position. We’ve got many many junior ministers and even cabinet ministers who have resigned unwilling to serve under Boris Johnson. We’ve got many members of the backbench Conservative Party who believe that he is, frankly, dangerous.”
Johnson announcing resignation at Downing Street in London [Peter Nicholls/Reuters] Truss says Johnson made right decision
Liz Truss, the British foreign secretary, has said Johnson was right to resign as prime minister.
“The PM has made the right decision,” she said.
“We need calmness and unity now and to keep governing while a new leader is found.
Aljazeera
